Method for beverage formation with automated water delivery to heating tank

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for forming a beverage using a beverage formation device. Opening of a brew chamber may automatically enable the provision of beverage precursor liquid from a reservoir to a heating tank that is used (heated or not) to form a beverage. For example, opening of the brew chamber may cause a valve to be opened or otherwise permit flow of beverage precursor liquid from the reservoir to the heating tank. The valve may open simultaneously and automatically with a brew chamber lid, and may close when the brew chamber lid is closed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Divisional of and claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. §121 of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/704831, entitled “APPARATUSFOR BEVERAGE FORMATION WITH AUTOMATED WATER DELIVERY TO HEATING TANK”filed Feb. 12, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,495,949 which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Some types of beverage forming devices, such as coffee brewers, use acartridge containing a beverage medium, e.g., ground coffee, to form abeverage. In coffee brewers of this type, water is heated by the brewerand introduced into the cartridge. The water infuses with the coffee inthe cartridge, and the beverage formed is removed from the cartridge forconsumption. Many coffee brewers of this type commonly require a user toprovide water to the machine that is used to form the beverage.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The inventors have appreciated that in some applications, users of abeverage forming device, such as a coffee brewer, may wish to controlprecisely how much and what type of liquid (e.g., 9 ounces of bottledwater) is used to make a particular beverage. For example, with brewersused by hotel guests in their room, the guests may wish to have aspecific type and/or volume of water be used to make a beverage. Somesingle cup coffee makers provide for a choice of two or more specificvolumes, such as 8 or 10 ounces, but a guest may wish to use anothervolume, such as 7 ounces. Alternately, or in addition, the guest maywish to use a specific type of water to make the coffee. Thus, a guestmay wish to ensure that the brewer is completely empty of water or otherliquid before starting a beverage-making operation so that she candefine the volume and type of liquid used. Also, it may be preferable tomaintain the brewer empty of water between uses even if specific volumecontrol is not a consideration, e.g., because several hours or days maypass between uses of the brewer, resulting in stale water being left inthe brewer. Requiring a user to provide fresh water at the time of usemay help to provide a higher quality beverage.

One aspect of the invention relates to a method of beverage deviceoperation. The beverage formation device may include a brew chamber forreceiving a beverage cartridge, a reservoir for holding beverageprecursor liquid used to make the beverage and a heater tank for heatingthe beverage precursor liquid. Beverage precursor liquid (e.g., water)may be provided into the reservoir, e.g., by opening a reservoir lidthat allows access for a user to pour the liquid into the reservoir.Before pouring the liquid into the reservoir, the user may be able tosee that the reservoir is completely empty, helping to ensure the volumeof liquid used to make the beverage. After providing liquid into thereservoir, the brew chamber of the brewer may be opened, e.g., bylifting a brew chamber lid, to expose a cartridge receiver that receivesa beverage cartridge. In response to opening of the brew chamber, avalve may automatically open to permit beverage precursor liquid to flowfrom the reservoir into the heating tank. For example, the reservoir maybe positioned over the heating tank, and when the valve is opened, theliquid may flow under the force of gravity into the heating tank.Simultaneously, a beverage cartridge may be placed in the cartridgereceiver, and the brew chamber closed to at least partially enclose thebeverage cartridge in the brew chamber. In response to closing the brewchamber, the valve may be automatically closed to stop the flow ofbeverage precursor liquid from the reservoir to the heating tank. As aresult, all of the water or other liquid provided into the reservoir maybe delivered to the heating tank by the simple operation of opening thebrew chamber. Such a feature may be useful in certain embodiments, suchas brewers arranged to form one cup of beverage at a time, and thusrequiring water and a new cartridge to be provided for each brew cycle.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage formation device mayinclude a brew chamber for receiving a beverage cartridge and have a lidthat is movable between open and closed positions to open and close thebrew chamber. The brew chamber may be adapted to substantially enclose abeverage cartridge with the lid in a closed position, e.g., so thatliquid may be introduced into the cartridge to form a beverage. Areservoir may hold a beverage precursor liquid, e.g., that is providedby a user pouring the liquid into the reservoir via a reservoir access.Liquid in the reservoir may be provided to a heater tank which heatsliquid delivered to the brew chamber for forming a beverage. A valve inthe flow path between the reservoir and the heater tank may open toallow flow of liquid from the reservoir to the heating tank when thebrew chamber lid is open, and may close the flow path when the brewchamber lid is closed. In one embodiment, the valve may include a gatethat is attached to the brew chamber lid and moves between open andclosed positions as the brew chamber lid moves between open and closedpositions. A user need not take any particular steps to deliver theprecursor liquid to the heater tank other than opening a brew chamberlid, i.e., an action that must be done with some devices that require abeverage cartridge to form a beverage.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the invention are described with reference to the followingdrawings in which like numerals reference like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage formation device inaccordance with aspects of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the beverage formation device of FIG. 1with a reservoir lid in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the beverage formation device of FIG. 1with a brew chamber in an open position;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a schematic view of portions of the of the beverageformation device in various states of opening and closing operations;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a beverage formation device inaccordance with aspects of the invention;

FIG. 7 shows a top view of a level indicator in an illustrativeembodiment; and

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the FIG. 7 level indicator embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects of the invention are described below and/or shown in thedrawings. These aspects of the invention may be used alone and/or in anysuitable combination with each other. Aspects of the invention are notlimited in any way by the illustrative embodiments shown and describedherein.

As used herein, a “cartridge” may take any suitable form, such as a pod(e.g., opposed layers of filter paper encapsulating a beverage medium),capsule, sachet or any other arrangement. The cartridge may beimpervious to air and/or liquid, or may allow water and/or air to passinto the cartridge. The cartridge may include a beverage medium, such astea, ground coffee, powdered milk, a drink mix, and/or any othersuitable material for forming a beverage. The cartridge may include afilter or other arrangement to help prevent some portions of thebeverage medium from being provided with the formed beverage, such as acoffee drink, tea, hot chocolate, etc. To “brew” a beverage as usedherein includes infusion, mixing, dissolving, steeping or otherwiseforming a drinkable substance using water or other beverage precursor(e.g., flavored or otherwise treated water, or other liquid whetherheated or not) with a beverage medium. Also, reference to “water” hereinis to any suitable water formulation, e.g., filtered, deionized,softened, etc., as well as any other suitable precursor liquid used toform a beverage, such as sweetened or flavored water, milk, etc.

FIG. 1 shows a beverage forming device 10 that incorporates variousaspects of the invention. This illustrative embodiment includes ahousing 101 that encloses various parts of the device 10 and supportsseveral external features, such as a power button 91, a cup sensor 97(e.g., a photosensor) and/or other optional features. A brew chamber 1may be opened, e.g., by lifting a handle 3, so that a beverage cartridgemay be inserted into the brew chamber 1 for forming a beverage. In thisregard, the device 10 may operate, for example, as shown in U.S. Pat.No. 7,165,488, which is hereby incorporated by reference. That is,lifting the handle 3 may cause a brew chamber lid (not shown in FIG. 1)to be raised so that a cartridge receiver may tilt forward to receive abeverage cartridge. Of course, it should be understood that the brewchamber 1 may be opened in other ways, such as by push button actuationof a motor-driven mechanism, manual opening of a drawer that slideslinearly outwardly to receive a cartridge, and so on.

In one aspect of the invention, the device 10 may automatically enableprovision of water or other precursor liquid used to form a beverageinto a heating tank in response to opening of the brew chamber 1. Forexample, a user may move a reservoir lid 51 of a reservoir 5 from theclosed position in FIG. 1 to the open position shown in FIG. 2. With thereservoir lid 51 in the open position, the reservoir 5 is exposed,allowing the user to provide water or other precursor liquid (such as asweetened water, milk, etc.) into the reservoir 5. A level indicator 52,such as two or more markings on the sidewall of the reservoir 5 mayprovide a visual indication to the user regarding a volume of liquid inthe reservoir 5. Other arrangements for the level indicator 52 are alsopossible, such as electronic displays, capacitive, conductive and/orother electronic liquid level measuring arrangements, and so on. Forexample, the level indicator 52 could include one or more conductiveprobes that measure a resistance level in the reservoir 5 which variesbased on the volume of liquid in the reservoir 5. The level indicator 52could use the measured resistance to control a display (e.g., an LCD)that indicates a corresponding volume in the reservoir 5.

With water in the reservoir 5, the user could lift the handle 3 orotherwise cause the brew chamber 1 to open to allow placement of a freshcartridge 2 in the brew chamber 1, as shown in FIG. 3. Although FIG. 3shows that the brew chamber 1 is opened with the reservoir lid 51 in aclosed position, the brew chamber 1 could be opened with the reservoirlid 51 in an open position. In accordance with an aspect of theinvention, when the brew chamber 1 is opened, a flow path between thereservoir 5 and a heater tank (not shown in FIGS. 1-3) is opened so thatliquid in the reservoir 5 can flow into the heater tank. In oneembodiment, opening of the brew chamber 1 opens a valve, which allowsliquid in the reservoir 5 to flow into the heater tank. Thus, in thisembodiment, water in the reservoir 5 is automatically delivered to theheater tank in response to opening of a brew chamber, e.g., to place anew cartridge for beverage creation.

After placement of the fresh cartridge 2 in the brew chamber and liquidin the reservoir 5 is delivered to the heater tank, the user may causethe brew chamber 1 to close, e.g., by pressing down on the handle 3,pushing a control button that actuates a motor drive to close the brewchamber 1, etc. Closing of the brew chamber 1 may cause the device 10 tobegin a brew cycle, e.g., heating of the liquid in the heater tank maybe started, and heated liquid delivered to the cartridge to make abeverage. Of course, the start of a brew cycle may be initiated in otherways, such as by a user pushing a button, placing a cup under the brewchamber 1, detection of a suitable amount of water in the heater tank,and so on.

Although provision of water or other precursor liquid into the reservoir5 is made by a user pouring the water into the reservoir 5, provision ofwater or other liquid to the reservoir 5 may occur in other ways, and auser need not provide the liquid into the reservoir 5. For example,liquid may be provided to the reservoir 5 in response to brew chamber 1closing, e.g., a water supply line that feeds the reservoir 5 may becontrolled to deliver water to the reservoir 5 when the brew chamber 1is closed. Thus, when the brew chamber is next opened, the liquid in thereservoir 5 may be delivered to the heater tank, and the reservoir 5again refilled when the brew chamber is closed. The water supply linemay run from a plumbed connection to a domestic water supply, forexample, and a float valve or other arrangement may stop water supply tothe reservoir 5 when a desired volume is present in the reservoir 5. Inone embodiment, an electronically-controlled valve in the plumbedconnection may be closed when the level indicator 52 detects aparticular volume of water in the reservoir 5. Further, a user maydefine the desired liquid volume to be provided to the reservoir 5, suchas by setting a selector switch, pressing a button corresponding to adesired volume and so on In such embodiments, a lid 51 for the reservoir5 need not be provided since a user need not have access to thereservoir 5. However, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, thereservoir 5 receives water or other liquid by a user pouring the liquidthrough an access opening exposed by opening of the reservoir lid 51. Inaccordance with this embodiment, a user may visually confirm that thedevice 10 is effectively empty of water between uses, and have freshwater provided to the brewer prior to each brew cycle.

In another aspect of the invention, the brew chamber 1 may opensimultaneously with closing of the reservoir lid 51. That is, closing ofthe reservoir lid 51 may signal that the user has provided water intothe reservoir 5, and is now ready to provide a fresh cartridge 2 intothe brew chamber 1. Simultaneous and automatic opening of the brewchamber 1 with closure of the reservoir lid 51 may be controlled by alid control mechanism, e.g., that unlatches the brew chamber from alocked closed position allowing the brew chamber to open under a springbias. Other arrangements for the lid control mechanism are possible,such as a motor-driven linkage that operates to open the brew chamber 1in response to a user's closure of the reservoir lid 51, mechanical orelectro-mechanical latching devices that unlatch the brew chamber 1allowing the brew chamber to open under a spring bias, and others.

To further illustrate these and other aspects of the invention, FIGS. 4and 5 show a schematic view of selected components of the device 10shown in FIGS. 1-3 with the housing 101 removed. Although reference ismade to FIGS. 4 and 5 to illustrate aspects of the invention, nolimitation on such aspects of the invention is intended. For example,arrangements are described for movement of a brew chamber lid and areservoir lid 51, but aspects of the invention are not limited to theembodiments described, e.g., neither the brew chamber 1 nor thereservoir 5 need have a lid in some aspects of the invention. Also, itshould be understood that the device 10 likely would include other partsthat are not shown here for purposes of clarity.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, an arm 42 is pivotally mounted toa frame 6 of the device 10 at an axis 41. Although not shown, the arm 42may be moved based on movement of the handle 3, which may be fixed tothe arm 42 or otherwise coupled to the arm 42 so that movement of thehandle 3 causes the arm 42 to pivot about the axis 41. The frame 6 mayform a skeleton of the device 10, supporting the housing 101 as well asother components of the device 10. The arm 42 has mounted to it a brewchamber lid 12 that covers an opening in a beverage cartridge receiver11. The brew chamber lid 12 may be fixed relative to the arm 42, andthus may move to open or close the brew chamber 1 with movement of thearm 42. The brew chamber lid 12 may include a needle or other piercingelement that punctures the cartridge 2 when the cartridge is enclosed inthe brew chamber. The piercing element may be used to introduce water orother liquid into the cartridge, as is known in the art. Also mounted tothe arm 42 is a gate 71 of a valve 7 which controls flow of liquidbetween the reservoir 5 and the heater tank 8. Thus, in this embodiment,the gate 71 moves to open and close the flow path of the valve 7 betweenthe reservoir 5 and the heater tank 8 with movement of the arm 42.

In this illustrative embodiment, opening of the brew chamber lid 12 froma closed position shown in FIG. 4 is initiated by lifting the handle 3,which causes the arm 42 to rotate clockwise. Rotation of the arm 42lifts the brew chamber lid 12 away from the cartridge receiver 11, whichmay tilt forwardly as shown in FIG. 5 to receive a cartridge 2. Thismovement of the arm 42 also lifts the gate 71 away from a seat 72 of thevalve 7, opening the flow path to allow liquid in the reservoir 5 toflow (e.g., under the force of gravity) into the heater tank 8.Accordingly, if there is water present in the reservoir 5 when the brewchamber 1 is opened for placement of a cartridge 2 in the cartridgereceiver 11, the valve 7 will open to allow the water to flow into theheater tank 8. Closure of the brew chamber 1 causes the arm 42 to returnto the position shown in FIG. 4, which closes the valve 7. The valve 7may provide a pneumatic seal for the heater tank 8, allowing liquid inthe heater tank 8 to be delivered to the brew chamber 1 by introducingair pressure into the heater tank 8, as discussed in more detail below.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the gate 71 may be arranged at a suitableangle relative to the arm 42 so that the gate 71 properly contacts theseat 72 as the gate 71 moves between open and closed positions along anarcuate path with the arm 42. In another embodiment, the gate 71 may bepivotally mounted to the arm 42 so that the gate 71 may move along alinear path (e.g., along a vertical line), rather than an arcuate one,relative to the seat 72. In some embodiments, the gate 71 may be coupledto the arm 42 by a spring or other resilient element so that a suitableclosing force may be applied to the gate 71 when making contact with theseat 72. Alternately, or in addition, a silicone gasket or other elementmay be positioned between the gate 71 and seat 72 and arranged to form asuitable seal when the gate 71 and seat 72 are moved together. Thisresilient coupling may help prevent damage of the gate 71 or seat 72,e.g., by limiting the contact force to be under a threshold level,and/or help ensure that suitable contact is made between the gate 71 andseat 72 so that a leak-free seal is formed at the valve 7.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the valve 7 may bearranged in other ways. For example, the valve 7 may include a flapperelement that is connected by a chain or other link to the arm 42 in muchthe same way that a common toilet tank flapper valve is connected to aflush handle. Movement of the arm 42 upwardly may lift the flapperelement relative to the valve seat, opening the valve for flow. Theflapper valve element may return to contact with the valve seat oncewater has emptied from the reservoir 5. Again like a standard toilettank flapper valve, the flapper element may have a delay feature suchthat the flapper element remains in an open position for a period oftime even after the arm 42 is moved to a closed position. This delayfeature in the valve 7 may help ensure that all liquid in the reservoir5 is delivered to the heater tank 8 even if the user very quickly opensand closes the brew chamber 1 when placing a cartridge. (By “all liquid”is delivered or the reservoir is “emptied” it is meant thatsubstantially all liquid is delivered from the reservoir 5. Thus, afterdelivery of “all liquid” or “emptying” of the reservoir 5, there may infact be some liquid remaining in the reservoir 5.) In anotherembodiment, a valve gate or other moveable element may be coupled to thearm 42 by a multi-component linkage such that movement of the arm 42causes the valve 7 to open and close. In other embodiments, movement ofthe arm 42 may actuate an electric switch, which causes an actuator(such as a motor or solenoid) to open and/or close the valve 7.

Although the arm 42 is shown as moving along an arcuate path to move thebrew chamber lid 12 between open and closed positions, the arm 42 maymove in other ways, such as with a sliding motion, a non-pivoting up anddown motion, etc. In short, aspects of the invention are not limited inthe way that the brew chamber is opened/closed and/or the way that thevalve is opened or closed. For example, the brew chamber may be openedby sliding a cartridge receiver to an open position. In this embodiment,the brew chamber lid (if even present) need not move at all for openingof the brew chamber. Thus, the brew chamber may open and close in anysuitable way to allow a cartridge to be received for beverage formation.

In this embodiment, the reservoir 5 is sized to receive only enoughwater for the preparation of one serving of beverage (e.g., 6, 8, 10,12, 16 ounces or more), and the device 10 is operated to empty thereservoir 5 and heating tank 8 during each brew cycle. Thus, thereservoir 5 in this embodiment needs refilling after each completed brewcycle. This embodiment may be useful in certain applications, such ashotel use or other circumstances when it may not be desired to storewater in the brewer. Of course, in other embodiments, the reservoir 5may have a larger capacity, or be provided water from a separate storagetank or a plumbed connection. After water is provided in the reservoir5, the user may push the reservoir lid 51 down so that it locks in andpneumatically seals the reservoir 5. By a pneumatic seal, it is meantthat the lid 51 provides a suitable seal of the reservoir 5 to allowpneumatic delivery of water in the reservoir 5 to the heater tank 8, ifdesired.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a beverage forming device 10 inaccordance with aspects of the invention, e.g., the device 10 shown inFIGS. 1-5. With water in the reservoir 5, the user may open the brewchamber 1 to provide a fresh cartridge 2 in the brew chamber 1, e.g., bylifting the handle 3, pressing a button that causes a motor-drivenopening of the brew chamber 1, and so on. Opening of the brew chamber 1causes the valve 7 to open, allowing water in the reservoir 5 to flow tothe heater tank 8. As mentioned above, the valve 7 may open by way of amechanical coupling of the valve 7 to a portion of the brew chamber 1 sothat the valve opens with opening of the brew chamber 1, or by otherarrangements such as a solenoid actuator causing the valve 7 to openbased on a switch sensing opening of the brew chamber 1. If electronicor other sensing and motor-based operation of the valve 7 is used, thecontroller 9 may receive suitable sensor signals and output suitabledrive signals to control the valve's 7 operation. Also, as mentionedabove, the valve 7 may have a delay feature such that the valve 7remains open for a period of time, 1-2 seconds, a few seconds, or more,after the brew chamber 1 is closed. Water may flow through the valve 7to the heater tank 8 by gravity, air pressure in the reservoir 5, apump, or any other suitable arrangement.

With water in the reservoir 5 delivered to the heater tank 8 by the openvalve 7, the user may press a brew button (such the power button 91) tocause the brewer to start a brew cycle. In accordance with one aspect ofthe invention, initiation of a brew cycle may begin with heating of thewater in the heater tank 8 by a heater 94 (e.g., an electricalresistance heater), and when the water is sufficiently heated, deliveryof the water to the brew chamber may be initiated. Heating of the waterin the heater tank 8 may be done in any suitable way. For example, acontroller 9 may control the heater 94 to begin heating of the water inthe heater tank 8, e.g., by an electrical resistance heater in or aroundthe heater tank 8, a heater in the line 96 leading from the heater tank8 to the brew chamber 1, or otherwise arranged to heat the water. Oncethe water is heated to a desired temperature, a thermal cut off (TCO)switch 93 associated with the heater tank 8 may open and cause power tobe cut off to the heater 94, e.g., the TCO switch 93 may be arranged inthe power supply line to the heater 94. (In some embodiments, sufficientheating of the water may be sensed in other ways, such as by athermocouple, thermistor or other sensor.)

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the controller 9 (e.g.,which may include a microprocessor for performing data processingfunctions, a memory for storing data and/or operating instructions,communication buses or other devices, software or othercomputer-executable instructions, a power supply or other power sourcesuch as a plug for mating with an electrical outlet, relays, mechanicallinkages, user data input devices such as buttons, a touch screen orother, information display devices such as an LCD display, indicatorlights or other, and/or other components for providing desired controlfunctions) may detect the opening of the TCO (such as by detecting adrop in voltage at the heater 94) and in response cause delivery ofwater to the brew chamber 1, e.g., control an air pump 92 to beginoperation. The air pump 92 may deliver air under pressure to the heatertank 8 to cause the pressure in the heater tank 8 to rise, causingheated water to be forced from the heater tank 8 to the brew chamber 1via a line 96. The heater tank 8 may have an outlet at or near thebottom of the heater tank 8 so that heated water is forced from theoutlet and into the line 96 (which may include a check valve to helpprevent backflow of fluid in the line 96). Heated water or otherprecursor liquid that is provided to the brew chamber 1 may enter abeverage cartridge 2 in the brew chamber 1 via an inlet needle thatpunctures the cartridge when the brew chamber lid 12 closes the brewchamber 1. The water may contact the beverage medium in the cartridgeand a formed beverage may exit the cartridge, e.g., via an exit needlethat punctures a bottom side of the cartridge. The air pump 92 may runfor a specified period of time, e.g., 60 seconds, or otherwisecontrolled (e.g., by detecting a drop in pressure in the heater tank 8signifying an absence of liquid) to empty the heater tank 8 of all wateror other liquid. The timing of the air pump operation may be arranged sothat mainly air is pumped at the end of the cycle, e.g., to help purgethe cartridge 2 of any remaining beverage, as well as to help dry theheater tank 8 and the line 96.

As described above and in accordance with one aspect of the invention,the heater tank 8 may be vented to allow escape of steam or otherpressurized gas during heating of the water, but not interfere withpneumatic delivery of water from the heater tank 8 to the brew chamber1. For example, an orifice 95 (or valve) arranged in the connectionbetween the air pump 92 and the heater tank 8 may be suitably arrangedto properly vent the heater tank 8 during heating (e.g., to preventsubstantial delivery of water from the heater tank 8 to the brew chamber1 until the air pump 92 is operated), and be arranged so thatpressurization of the heater tank 8 by the air pump 92 causes desireddelivery of water to the brew chamber 1. In one illustrative embodiment,the orifice has a diameter of approximately 0.012 inch.

In one embodiment, the brewer may include a cup or mug sensor 97 thatdetects whether a container is positioned to receive a beverage as itexits the brew chamber 1 and cartridge. (In one embodiment, the cupsensor 97 may include an LED or other light emitting element and aphotodetector that are arranged so that if a cup is properly positionedunder the brew chamber, a light beam traveling from the LED to thephotodetector is interrupted.) If a container is not detected, thecontroller 9 may prevent the brewer from operating, e.g., may preventwater heating, air pump operation, etc. Also, if the cup sensor detectsthat the container is removed during a brew cycle (e.g., during waterheating or delivery of heated water to the cartridge), the controller 9may stop brewer operation (stop heating or water delivery.) The brewcycle may be resumed if the container is detected to be replaced.

In another aspect of the invention, the controller 9 may include afeature that powers up the device 10 upon detection that the brewchamber 1 has been opened. In accordance with this aspect of theinvention, a user need not be required to turn the device 10 on whenseeking to make a beverage, e.g., by pressing the power button 91, butinstead may simply lift the handle 3 or otherwise open the brew chamber1 and place a new cartridge in the brew chamber 1. Upon closing of thebrew chamber 1 (indicating that a new cartridge has been placed andwater has been provided in the reservoir 5/heater tank 8), thecontroller 5 may begin the brew cycle (e.g., water heating, followed bywater delivery to the brew chamber). The controller 9 may include one ormore sensors to detect opening/closing of the brew chamber 1 and/or thereservoir lid 51 to power up the device 10 and/or initiate a brew cycle.Such sensors may include a microswitch that is opened/closed uponmovement of the arm 42, the brew chamber lid 12, the reservoir lid 51,and/or other suitable components. Power up of the device 10 may betriggered, for example, by a switch detecting movement of the brewchamber lid 12 or arm 42 from the closed position toward the openposition. The sensor(s) may alternately, or in addition, detect thepresence of a cartridge in the brew chamber 1, water or other liquid inthe reservoir 5 and/or other features for suitable control of the device10. Accordingly, the device 10 may receive a brew indication from a userto start a brew cycle in a variety of different ways, e.g., by closingthe reservoir lid 51, by pressing a power button 91 or other user input,by placing a cup or other receptacle under the brew chamber or otherwiseto receive a beverage, and so on.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a top view and side view of another embodiment for alevel indicator 52 for use with a reservoir 5. In this illustrativeembodiment, the level indicator 52 includes a structure having a steppedarrangement such that three different volume indicators 52 a, 52 b, and52 c are provided in the reservoir 5. As water is provided into thereservoir 5 and the water level rises, the water level will first meetthe indicator 52 c, which in this embodiment indicates a volume of 6ounces, although other volume indications are possible. If more water isadded, the level will meet the second indicator 52 b (representing 8ounces in this embodiment), and then the third indicator 52 c (whichindicates 10 ounces). With this type of indicator 52, a user canrelatively easily view the amount of liquid in the reservoir 5 bylooking directly into the reservoir 5.

The above and other aspects of the invention will be appreciated fromthe detailed description and claims. It should be understood thatalthough aspects of the invention have been described with reference toillustrative embodiments, aspects of the invention are not limited tothe embodiments described. Also, aspects of the invention may be usedalone, or in any suitable combination with other aspects of theinvention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for forming a beverage,comprising: providing a beverage brewer that includes a brew chamber forreceiving a beverage cartridge, a reservoir for holding beverageprecursor liquid and a heating tank for heating beverage precursorliquid, the beverage brewer being constructed and arranged to introducethe precursor liquid into the beverage cartridge and form a beverage;providing beverage precursor liquid into the reservoir; opening of thebrew chamber of the brewer to expose a cartridge receiver to receive abeverage cartridge in association with the brew chamber; in response toopening of the brew chamber, automatically opening a valve to permitbeverage precursor liquid to flow from the reservoir into the heatingtank; placing a beverage cartridge in the cartridge receiver; closingthe brew chamber to at least partially enclose the beverage cartridge inthe brew chamber; and in response to closing the brew chamber,automatically closing the valve to stop the flow of beverage precursorliquid from the reservoir to the heating tank.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising: opening a lid of the reservoir before providing thebeverage precursor liquid into the reservoir.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the reservoir includes a volume indicator that visuallyindicates two or more different volumes of liquid held in the reservoir.4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: operating the beveragebrewer to empty the heating tank of precursor liquid to form a beverage.5. The method of claim 1, wherein: the step of opening the brew chambercomprises opening a brew chamber lid to allow the beverage cartridge tobe placed in the brew chamber; and the step of closing the brew chambercomprises closing the brew chamber lid.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the valve includes a gate that is attached to the brew chamberlid and a flowpath, and wherein the valve moves with the brew chamberlid to close the flow path with the brew chamber lid in the closedposition, and the valve moves with the brew chamber lid to open the flowpath with the brew chamber in the open position.
 7. The method of claim1, further comprising: heating the beverage precursor liquid in theheating tank; and delivering the heated beverage precursor liquid to thebeverage cartridge in the brew chamber.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein the step of delivering comprises introducing air into theheating tank to force the heated beverage precursor liquid to thebeverage cartridge.